Pumpkins {Photo Blog}

Last Saturday we took the kids to the pumpkin patch and let them each pick out a pumpkin. Here's what we found on our expedition;

Someone thinks she is pretty strong...  :) She could actually pull them!

Walker

I'd like to say that my littlest munchkin is walking.....but I can't.... I honestly think he can, he just uses the walker as his "safety net" from his siblings. And he can run in it. And he picks it up to walk OVER toys, clothes, whatever is in his way...So I think he can, he just doesn't want to yet. So funny because he is the latest to walk! Soon enough though he'll be chasing after his brother and sisters!!!

Oh, and he can climb out of it too...

A {little} Busy....

You're probably wondering what I've been up to lately. And if you haven't, that's okay because I am going to share it with you anyways! :)

Other than the fact that the fall semester at school is well underway and I finally have found a good routine for keeping four munchkins entertained AND completing Joshie's homework, we've been quite busy with little projects around here!

Here's the BIG one I just finished:

Yea, that's NINE Cheer bows! And as I was writing this, two more orders came in! I've been having fun with this, and am thankful that it's FINALLY getting off the ground....You can check out my facebook page or Etsy shop

I've been also trying to keep on top of the laundry, dishes, vacuuming and daily stuff that I NEVER have time for, grading, lesson planning, playing and entertaining munchkins, making lunches and dinners, blogging, and spending time with the family.....

It's a busy life, but it's my life. And I wouldn't trade it for the WORLD!

So when's my personal organizer arriving?? :)

Joshua Pre-K {Q1 Update}

The first quarter ended this past Friday at school (hence why there weren't many posts last week - teaching is great, except for the end of a grading period). Here's some highlights of the first eight weeks of Pre-K and the cool things Josh has done!

We made a bird nest for science for the letter "n" sound

"L" shaped pancakes for breakfast one morning to kick off our school day

Josh made a bird feeder in science

God takes care of us, just like He takes care of the animals.
So Josh made this to hang in our front yard.

"T" cookies for Joshie's class when they studied the "T" sound

Math activity involving addition and subtraction

Jenna likes to practice too. She's ready for Pre-K next year!

Studying is hard work, huh Pepper?!

We are excited about starting this second quarter at school. Josh is singing in our Christmas Banquet with his classmates and he is learning SO much!!! I'm very proud of him!

It All Comes Around In The End

My husband was on a retreat in a remote part of Texas some hours away.

My dad and his wife were camping in Corpus Christi a few hours south of me.

I had three kids all to myself on that fall weekend...Two years ago...

It changed my thinking and rocked my world in a way I never thought it could.

Now I can reflect, be thankful, and know that even though "bad things happen", God is not only in control, He loves and cherishes His children so a greater good comes out of everything.

Here's how it all comes around:

Earlier that month, God spoke to mine and Jason's heart in promising us one more baby to our number. Specifically a boy. We were anxious, excited, and just waiting....

On that Saturday morning, I woke up thinking I had apendicitis (it hurt that bad). I went to an urgent care clinic that was open on Saturday, just wanting anyone to help me. Julianna was 6 months, Jenna was almost 2, and Josh had just turned 3.

We were there for HOURS (literally). I was informed that I was pregnant and had IBS and my body was "aborting the baby". I had had a miscarriage before. This was not right....at all. Apauled at this result and his unwise choice of words, after being sent  home, I went to the internet for more information. I'm glad I did.

It is now around 5:00 pm and now the pain is in my scapula (shoulder blade) and I knew there was something wrong. I called a good friend of ours over to watch the kids. I have the most wonderful OB, as she had given me her cell number from when I had Josh and she had become a special part of our little family. She was at dinner, and immediately admitted me through emergency to check herself.

Next thing I know, I am alone.

In a hospital without my kids.

Without my husband.

Without my parents.

I was wisked away and told so many things and hooked up to various devices. Jason was on his way, he got there in time to give me comfort before my emergency surgery.

I had an ectopic pregnancy that had caused my tube to rupture inside my abdomen. I was bleeding for at least four days. I will never know how far along I was. I will never know or get to see the baby that "could have been" until I get to heaven.

But God still worked a miracle.

My OB said that my blood had somehow managed to clot INSIDE my body....where there's no oxygen...(Miracle #1)

She said that if I had waited until the next day, I would not have survived. But I did.... God has a plan for me and my family (Miracle #2)

We were informed that it would be more difficult to have children due to the fact that she had to remove the entire right tube. I was also considered "high risk" because even though I had NONE of the risk factors before, now that I had one ectopic, I was 30% more likely to have another one. But God is bigger.... I KNEW I was pregnant before any blood test showed it, or any pregnacy test picked it up. I was told 4 times that we weren't, but I knew.... And we were (Miracle #3)

At our first ultrasound, Joshua told the technician that his baby brother was in "mommy's tummy". She of course replied with - it's too early. To that he said "Nope, I prayed for a baby brother and God told me."

Jayden Christopher was born - November 16th 2011. EXACTLY 13 months to the day from where we started. Jayden is "God's promise" and he makes our family complete now :)

Pre-K {Update}

I love school pictures.

Especially now that I officially have a school-aged munchkin.

Yep, I'm a proud momma! <3

"Little Mommy"

I think girls are just born to be little nurture-ers. Jenna, for example LOVES to play house with Jayden as her little baby.... I catch her all the time like this:

Sweet little girl, that boy is almost as big as you!

Precious

We have morning assembly each morning before class at school.

Usually, I am up on the second floor next to my door.

Waiting and watching my students.

Keeping an eye on Josh.

This day I was downstairs and I caught the most precious picture of my little Joshie....